Lowering device for coffins.



"03633902. Patented Sept. 26, I899. a; F. PLEI'N.

LOWEBING DEVICE FOR GOFFINS.

(Application and Apr. 17, 1899.)

' (No Medal.)

- Fig.2

M/ VE N TOR Jase 275421276 521/,

WITNESSES:

TTOHNE m.

UNITED STATES PATEN omen? JOSEPH F. PLEIN, or; PATToNvILLE, MISSOURI.

LowERmo Device FoR COFFIINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettrs Paterit Ne. 633,902, datedSeptember 26,1899.

1 Application file d April 17, 1899. Serial No. 713,383. No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F; PLEI'bLa citizen of the United States,residing at Pattonville, in the county of St. Louis and State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in LoweringDevices for Coffins; and I do hereby declare the fol' lowing to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableoth-I ers skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use thesame. 7

' My invention relates to improvements in lowering devices for cofiins;and it consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, aswill be hereinaftermore particu larly described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure'l is a side elevation of my complete invention,showing the same as used in connection .with a grave; and- Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the same.

The object of my invention is to construct a simple and practical frameor support which is designed to straddle the grave and a suitablemechanical device mounted upon said: frame which is adapted to beoperated by hand from one or both sideslof the frame, to

which device suitable straps are attached capable of being wound andunwound, the latter or lower ends of the same adapted to embrace anordinary coffln,whereby the latter is suspended and readily andconveniently lowered into the grave without accident, the said framebeing portable,whereby it is adaptedto be carried to any place whereitis tie-- sired to be used within the graveyard.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a portable'frameor support whichis made of suitable material and design and is adapted to straddle thegrave, the lower ends of which rest upon the ground on either side ofthe grave. Mounted upon and secured to the top of the said frame orsupport 1 is a lowering device 2, which is composed of two shafts 3,mounted in suitable bearings 4:,one end of each shaft being providedwith a crank 5, which are adapted to be grasped by the hand of theoperator,one or both ofsaid cranks being operated as may be found mostdesirable. Secured to each shaft 3 is a reel or spool G which aresubstantiallypn a line with one another, and fastened to each of thesame is one end of a strap 7, making two in number,

which are adapted to be wound and unwoundupon the same, the lower endsof said straps being provided with snap-hooks 8, which are adapted tosnap into rings 9, located a suitable di'stance from thelower end ofsaid straps and secured there-to, whereby loops 10 are formed forreceiving the coffin before the latter islowered into the grave. Alsosecured to each of the shafts 3 of the lowering device is a gear-wheel11, which are consequently.

two in number, and which mesh with one another, whereby when either orboth of the shafts 3 are operated by hand from one side of the frame 1the spools 6 are simultaneously operated in their proper direction forwinding and unwinding the strap 7, secured to the same. r V

j In practice the coffin is first placed over the grave and supportedabove the same upon a suitableskid or board such as is commonlyemployed, and while thecoffin is in this position the loops 10, locatedat the lower end of the straps 7, are placed over the opposite ends ofthe coffin and the lowering device turned in the proper direction toslightly raise the coffin in order that the skid or board may easily andreadily be removed from beneath the same, after which the loweringdevice is operated in the reverse direction, unwinding the straps 7 fromthe spools 6, in which operation the coffin is gradually lowered to thebottom of the grave, after which the lower ends of the straps areremoved from the coffin in-the usual manner'and the said straps woundupon the spools 6.

I do not limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement ofparts herein shown and described, as the same may be changed vinmanyrespects without departing from the nature of my invention, theprincipal object being to provide a support which is adapted to besupported upon the ground adjacent to the grave and straddling the same,a suitable lowering mechanism or reel adapted to be operated by hand,and straps or other simi- 1 lar devices adapted to be wound and unwoundupon said reel, the lower ends of which are adapted to hold and suspenda' coffin for lowering the latter into a grave;

Having fully described my'invention, what I claim is 1. A loweringdevice for coffins, compris- KOO are ad'apbed 0- Pest u pen the groundoneitlier' i side of the grave lowering device mounteci 7 upon saidframe, andcompossd ofrtwe paral- 1 one another, suitable strapmone endof each I V r 0f which is atmched io said spo jls, and haw I iable lnopsfor; receivinga coffin, a 'geanwheel' I also fixed to each of saidshafts, and meshing Withoneanother, whereby the said spools are operatedsimultaneously, and in opposite d 1 rections as and for/the purposedescribed. 2. i In eambinapion wish a suitable lowering ing a suitablefra le, the lbwerrsndsiuf which 'lel shaftmcranlgsifor each 0f saidshafts, and

arran.ged'onopposine sides of the frame, spools secured fiokeachof'saidshafts, on a line with ingtheir ppasiteends provided Willh detach-'-device, 05 spools fo'rmingn part of the same,- I

and 011a line with one ahthexjstmp's, one

'endofieach ofwhich is attached to the; said spools, ancladapled tubewaund "upon the latter; snap-hooks secured to thefle'e ends of-the-same,and rings locatefil at a, suitableclis- Lance from said hookanclalso securedto one side'iof said straps,'whereby suit-abl'ef loops,maybeiformed onrhe flait -side of the 25 Deltas and forfliepurposedescribed'.

,1 In testimon'y'whereof Iafix'my signature in presencenftWowitnesses. gV

' JOSEPH F. PLEINM Nvi'tnessesf" O. KELLER,"

J ALFRED AiQMQATHEY.

